Vestibule-car



(No Model.)

N. P. OOWELL.

VBSTIBULE OAR.

No. 394,339. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

NEVVELL P. COXVELL, OF CLE\"'ELAND, OHIO.

VESTlBULE-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,339, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed April 21, 1888.

To all 1.0710710 it 7120; concern:

Be it known that I, NEWELL P. CowELL, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VestibuleCars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in vestibule-cars, and more especially to mechanism for holding taut the curtains that close the space between the vestibule proper and the self-adjusting frame that engages the opposing car. Heretofore these curtains have usually been fastened at one edge thereof to the said frame and the other edge to the vestibule, leaving such curtain to distend or corru gate with the movement of the frame toward or from the vestibule. In freezing weather the corrugations of these curtains with the receptacles of snow and ice and at other times were loaded with dust and filth. I have therefore devised mechanism for keeping these curtains taut, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan in section in detail.

A represents the vestibule of the car, and B a self-adjusting frame, usually of metal, that engages a similar frame of the opposing car. Frame B is backed with suitable springs, several varieties of which are in use, a suit able upper spring for the purpose bein shown at b, Fig. 1. In any event frame B is not only free to move toward and from the vestibule, but can also turn laterally on its axis to ac commodate the curvature of the road, and the faces of opposing frames may slide laterally on each other to accommodate the rocking of the cars. Frame B stands out some little distance from the vestibule, and the intervening space is closed by a curtain, 0, of canvas or other suitable material, the outer edge of the curtain being fastened to frame B, and the inner edge of the curtain being fastened to movable bars D, the latter operating in recesses or pockets a of the vestibule-casings A. The lower end of each bar D rests on a plate, A the latter being secured to the platform or to the casing, whichever may be found most convenlateral pins or studs c of the long arms of le- 5 5 vers E. These levers are pivoted at c to the easin g, so as to operate in vertical planes lengthwise of the car. Angle-plates F form the lining for one side of the pocket, the short legs of these plates overlapping the plane of levers E and nearly closing the mouth of the pockets, leaving just room for the curtain to operate freely past the edges of these plates. (See Fig. 3.) Studs f are attached to plates F, these studs extending back into the pocket and extend ing through holes c in the short end of lever E. A spiral spring, G, is mounted 011 each stud f, the outer end of the spring abutting the short arm of lever E, and the inner end of the spring bearing against a collar, g, of the stud. These collars are usually screwed onto, the stud, and may therefore be adjusted lengthwise of the stud to regulate the tension of the spring. The tension of these springs tends to press the short arms of levers E outward, and consequently to move the long arm of these levers and the connected plate D inward or toward the body of the car. Springs G are not nearly so strong as the springs that back frame B, and consequently when the cars are drawn farther apart the outward movement of frame B draws the curtain and bars D along with it, thereby compressing springs G. \Vhen, however, frame D is pressed back, the recoil of spring G moves bars D back and keeps the curtain taut, and the two bars D being entirely independent of each other and the curtain extending through the pocket overhead, from one bar to the other, the curtain will be kept taut and substantially free from corrugations, regardless of the position the frame B may assume, whether directly crosswise of the car, as on a straight track, or oblique with the car, as on a curved track.

A series of U-shaped flat springs, H, are 5 connected, the one leg to frame B and the other leg to the vestibule, the bow of each spring presenting upward, as shown in Fig. 2. These springs, so far as their limited strength goes, assist the upper spring of frame B; too

but their principal function is to support a hood, I, the latter being connected with frame B and with the vestibule extending over and inclosing the top of the curtain to keep the storms and cinders from the latter. By means of springs II the hood I is not allowed to wrinkle, but, in place thereof, is always kept taut, and therefore presents a smooth surface.

Springs II may be of such strength that no other springs are, wanted for operating the upper end of frame 13, and in such case spring 6 or its equivalent may be dispensed with.

What I claim is 1. In a vestibule-car, the combination, with self-adjusting frame adapted to en gage a similar frame of an opposing car, of curtains fastened to such frame, the inner edge of the curtains being connected with spring-actuated bars for keeping the curtains taut, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with self adjusting frame having curtains attached and movable bars connected with the inner edge of the curtains, of springaetuated levers for operating such bars to keep the curtains taut, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with self-adjusting frame, curtains, and sprii'ig-actuated bars for holding the curtains taut, substantially as indicated, of pockets in the VGStlblllG-CflSlllg for receiving such curtains and springactuated bars, substantially as set forth.

i. In a vestibule-car, the combination, with self-adjusting frame, and curtains, substantially as indicated, of U-shaped springs connected, the one leg with the frame and the other leg with the vestibule, the bows of such springs presenting upward, a hood supported by such springs, said hood being connected with the said frame and with the said vestibule, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of February, 1889.

NINYELL I. (TOWELL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. D()RER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

